Exchange-table and computing-machine.



No. 627,7l5. Patented-lune 27, I899.

B. E. BOYETT. EXCHANGE TABLE AND COMPUTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Feb."1'4, 1898.) I

' 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

THE uonms vzr ss c0, wworuu'rua, wAsmunToN, n. c.

No. 627,715. Patented 1m 27, I899.

B. E. BOYETT. EXCHANGE TABLE AND COMPUTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Feb. 14, web.

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

qmmmw m: nonms PETERS co, wnoTouma. wnsnmamu. n. c,

UNITED STATES PATE T. OFFICE.

BAPTIST E. BovETT, or TRIMBLE, TENNESSEE.

EXCHANGE-TABLE AND COM PUTlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 27,715, dated June 27, 1899. Application filed February 14., 1898. Serial No. 670,299. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BAPTIST E. BoYETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trimble, in the county of Dyer and State of Tennessee, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Exchange-Tables and Computing-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to ing certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims hereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View showing one side of the improved computing device. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the reverse side. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the complete device; Fig. at is a face view of one side of the rotatable disk. Fig. 5 is a similar View of the reverse side thereof. 7

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several views.

The improved computing device contemplated in this invention comprises a handle 1,

a which is slotted or bifurcated for the greater portion of its length to form two oppositelylocated parallel arms 2, which are connected at their extremities by means of atransverse bolt or pin 3, forming the pivot or fulcrum upon which the rotatable portion of the device turns.

Mounted between the arms 2 are two thin plates 4 and 5, of metal or any suitable material,which are polygonal in shape orhave a plurality of straight sides and provided with perforations or apertures, as hereinafter noted.

Between these two plates is mountedarotatable disk 6, the periphery of which is notched, milled, or knurled to facilitate the turning of the same by hand. This disk forms an exchange and computing table and is provided upon opposite sides with numbers arranged in concentric circular rows,indicating in some instances pounds and in other instances dol' lars and cents.

The plate at is provided with several series of openings, each series being arranged in curved order. One series (indicated at 7) is laid off in diiferent values, each opening or perforation representing a difierent value and each opening serving as an observation-aperture through which the figures or numerals on the adjacent side of the rotatable disk may be viewed. The prices marked on the perforations 7 relate to the retail price of flour. Another series 8 relates to the quantity or number of pounds of Wheat and amount given in exchange from twenty-six pounds to thirtysix pounds per bushel. A third series (indicated at 10). relates to the quantity or number of pounds of bran given in exchange for wheat at ten, eleven, and twelve pounds per bushel. The fourth series on the plate 4 (indicated at 9) is laid off in prices which relate to the retail price of bran. The other plate 5 is provided near its center with two series of observation-apertures l1,which refer to the price of shelled corn per bushel. Another series (indicated at 12) relates to the exchange of shelled corn into meal,with one-fifth, onesixth, or one-eighth off for toll. Another series 15 refers to the retail price of meal per bushel on a forty-six-pound-per-bushel basis. Another series 14 refers to retail price of meal on a basis of forty-eight pounds per bushel, whereas in the series 13 a fifty-pouud-perbushel basis is employed.

From the foregoing description it will'be Seen that the side indicated by 4 is for wheat, flour, bran, &c., while the plate 5 is for corn, meal, &c.

Commencing with the plate at, 8 represents the wheat in pounds and 8 the amount of flour to be given per bushel in exchange for wheat, ranging from twenty-six to thirty-six pounds. 10 indicates bran to be given in exchange for Wheat, ranging from ten to twelve- The group 7 is the price pounds per bushel.

of flour, ranging from two dollars and fifty cents to six dollars per barrel. 9 is the price of bran from forty cents to eighty-five cents per hundred pounds.

For example, suppose A comes to mill with eight hundred and forty pounds of wheat and wants one barrel of one hundred and ninetysix pounds patent flour and balance straight. The miller is giving thirty-one pounds patent or thirty five pounds straight and eleven pounds bran for every bushel of wheat. First, turn disk till 840 pounds comes at opening 8', and by looking at 35 pounds in group 8 the miller will find amount due him to be four hundred and ninety pounds of flour, and from group 10 it will be seen at eleven pounds that he is due one hundred and fifty-four pounds bran. Now turn disk till 196 comes to opening 31 pounds in group 8, and by looking at 35 pounds it will be seen that the equivalent of one hundred and ninety-six at thirty-one pounds is two hundred and twentyone pounds at thirty-five pounds. Now deduct this amount (two hundred and twentyone pounds) from first amount (four hundred and ninety pounds) and the balance due him will be seen at two hundred and seventy-nine pounds.

To work group 9, say the producer is selling one-dollar bran while it is worth sixty-five cents per hundred. Turn disk until 100 comes to the dollar-sign (3% in group 7. Then look at c. and the amount is found to be one hundred and fifty-three pounds. The same rule governs group 7. Say the producer wants to sell five dollars worth of flour while flour is worth three dollars and seventyfive cents per barrel. Turn the disk till 500 comes to the dollar-mark in group 7, and look at $3.7 5 and observe the amount purchased to be two hundred and sixty-six pounds.

To illustrate the workings of plate 5: One dollars worth of meal at sixty cents per bushel and forty-six pounds per bushel may be found by turning disk till 100 comes to the dollar-sign in group 11. Then look at 600. in group 15'and it will be seen that the amount required is seventy-six pounds. The same will work with group 1401* 15, also with shelled corn in groups 11 and 11.

The remainder of the table is for exchange of corn. Say A comes to mill with five hundred and seventy-five pounds shelled corn and wants meal for same and the miller is taking one-sixth off for toll. He turns disk till 575 shows at a in group 16, and looks at off and finds he wants four hundred and seventy-nine pounds. The same is true with the one-eighth off or one-fifth off. Suppose, however, his corn is not shelled and he has ear-corn with shuck on nine hundred and thirty pounds. The miller turns the disk until 930 shows at b in group 12, and if it takes seventy-four pounds to make a bushel he looks at 74 pounds and sees the amount seven hundred and three pounds, which can readily be exchanged to meal at one-eighth, one-sixth, or one-fifth off. The same is true with seventy-two pounds or seventy pounds per bushel ear-corn.

16 designates a lock for the polygonal plates, the said lock being in the form of a block inserted in the crotch of the handle and secured by means of a pin or bolt 17. The lockingblock 16 is of sufiicient Width to engage both of the polygonal plates and is provided with a V-shaped edge, so as to receive and embrace the corners or angles of the plates. moving the bolt 3 the polygonal plates may be correspondingly turned through a partial rotation, so as to bring any desired angle or corner of the plates into engagement with the locking-block, when upon reinserting the bolt both plates are held locked in their proper relative position and prevented from turning. This adjustment is provided in order to enable the table or series of openings used the most frequently to be brought into the most convenient position for reference.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a simple and efficient computing-table which will greatly facilitate the miller and farmer in determining how many pounds of one article should be given in exchange for a specified quantity of another article.

It will of course be understood that the device described is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction, which may accordingly be resorted to without departing from the principle-or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a computing device, a pair of polyg onal plates arranged in parallel relation, but spaced apart and each provided with several sets of observation-openings, each set extending spirally, a handle connecting said plates, and means permitting the adjustment of said plates relatively to said handle, in combina tion with a rotatable disk journaled between the plates and provided upon opposite sides with tabulated figures arranged in concentric circular rows and designed to be brought con secutively into view through said openings, the parts being so constructed that the inner disk may be turned independently of the illclosing plates, substantially as described.

2. In a computing device, a pair of poly onal plates having a corresponding number of straight edges and angles or corners defined thereby, said plates being arranged in parallel relation, but spaced apart and provided with observation-openings, and a bifurcated handle connecting said plates, in combination with a rotatable disk mounted between the plates and provided on opposite sides with tabulated figures for exposure through said openings, and a locking device By re-.

IIO

seated in the crotch of the handle and engaghaving a V-shaped edge whereby it is deing both polygonal plates for holding the latsigned to receive and hold the corners or anter stationary, substantially as described. gles of both of the polygonal plates, substan- 3. In a compntingdeyice, a pair of poly tially as and for the purpose described. 5 onal plates having corresponding straight In testimony whereof I affix my signature I 5 edges and angles or corners definedthereby, in presence of two witnesses. and a forked handle connecting said plates, BAPTIST E. BOYETT. in combination witha. rotatable disk mounted Witnesses: between said plates, and a locking-block W. A. BONNER, 1 1o seated in the crotch of the forked handle and GEO. B. DE V. VECCLIN. l 

